Clusters, Networks and Innovation

Stefano Breschi and Franco Malerba

Examines the role of regional clusters in the prosperity and economic expansion of countries

Looks at the different experiences of industrial districts and high-tech regions such as Silicon Valley, Boston's biotech region, and Hsinchu-Taipei

Draws on research from Economics, Geography, Management Studies, and Politics

Clusters, Networks and Innovation

Stefano Breschi and Franco Malerba

Description

Governments and regional authorities often express the belief that the key to prosperity and economic expansion is related to the ability of countries to sustain regional clusters of competitiveness and innovation. The book reviews the most important conceptual approaches to the analysis of the emergence, growth and evolution of clusters of innovation. Drawing from the different experiences of industrial districts and high-tech regions such as Silicon Valley, Boston's biotech region, and Hsinchu-Taipei, the contributions in this book offer a broad interpretative framework and policy implications for the creation and strengthening of competitive clusters.

Clusters, Networks and Innovation

Stefano Breschi and Franco Malerba

Author Information

Stefano Breschi is an Associate Professor of Applied Economics at Università L.Bocconi and a member of the Board of Directors at Cespri-Bocconi, Milan, Italy. He has published in various international journals. His main research interests concern economics of innovation, industrial economics, industrial dynamics, regional economics, networks and clusters, industrial and technology policy.

Franco Malerba is Full Professor of Industrial Economics at Università L.Bocconi. He is Director of CESPRI (Center for Research on Innovation and Internationalization) at Bocconi University. He has been president of the International Schumpeter Society and is currently president of EARIE (European Association for Research in Industrial Economics). He is Editor of the journal Industrial and Corporate Change, and Associate Editor of Research Policy and the Journal of Evolutionary Economics. He has published various books and several papers in various international journals. His main research interests concern economics of innovation, industrial economics, industrial dynamics, international competitiveness, and technology policy.